Fabric Vacuum Mop

ABSTRACT

A microfiber vacuum mop including a mop suction tube configured to receive a mop suction tube vacuum suction. A suction pad has a plurality of vacuum openings formed on an underside of the suction pad. The plurality of vacuum openings are in fluid communication with the mop suction tube. A microfiber fabric is mounted on the underside of the suction pad. The plurality of vacuum openings suck on the microfiber fabric when the vacuum suction is engaged. The microfiber fabric is dewatered during use. A follower brush is preferably mounted adjacent to the suction pad. The plurality of vacuum openings are arranged in a vacuum opening array that can number over three hundred openings.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of fabric mops.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

Vacuums, mops and steam apparatus have been combined in a variety ofdifferent configurations such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,677,552 byinventor Krebs issued Mar. 25, 2014, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference. The Krebs reference shows that suctionand steam can provided adjacent to a fabric cleaning pad.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A fabric microfiber vacuum mop including a mop suction tube configuredto receive a mop suction tube vacuum suction. A suction pad has aplurality of vacuum openings formed on an underside of the suction pad.The plurality of vacuum openings are in fluid communication with the mopsuction tube. A microfiber fabric is mounted on the underside of thesuction pad. The plurality of vacuum openings suck on the microfiberfabric when the vacuum suction is engaged. The microfiber fabric isdewatered during use. A follower brush is preferably mounted adjacent tothe suction pad. The plurality of vacuum openings are arranged in avacuum opening array that can number over three hundred openings.

The vacuum opening array can be arranged in a grid pattern of six byseventy two. The plurality of vacuum openings have a round shape and canbe arranged in at least six rows. A mop suction tube connection pairincludes a first suction tube connector and a second suction tubeconnector. The mop suction tube connection pair is connected to thesuction pad and in fluid communication with the plurality of vacuumopenings. The mop suction tube connection pair is connected to a pair oftubes, namely a left branch and a right branch. The left branch isconnected to a T connector, and the right branch is connected to a Tconnector. The T connector is connected to the mop suction tube.

The suction pad is mounted to the mop head arm member so that the mophead arm member is swivel mounted to rotate between a raised disengagedposition and a lowered engaged position. The primary vacuum has aprimary vacuum tube and a primary vacuum opening. The primary vacuumtube has a primary vacuum suction of greater force than a mop suctiontube vacuum suction. A water spray nozzle is configured to spray waterwhen a valve handle is actuated.

BRIEF DISCUSSION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view diagram of the microfiber vacuum mop showing theswiveling function.

FIG. 2 is a side view diagram of the microfiber vacuum mop without theprimary vacuum tube.

FIG. 3 is a front view diagram of the microfiber vacuum mop without theprimary vacuum tube.

FIG. 4 is bottom view diagram of the microfiber vacuum mop without theprimary vacuum tube.

FIG. 5 is a side view diagram of the microfiber vacuum mop in lowerengaged position.

FIG. 6 is a side view diagram of the microfiber vacuum mop in a slightlyraised intermediate disengaged position.

FIG. 7 is a side view diagram of the microfiber vacuum mop in a moreraised intermediate disengaged position.

FIG. 8 is a side view diagram of the microfiber vacuum mop in a raiseddisengaged position.

The following call out list of elements can be a useful guide inreferencing the elements of the drawings.

-   10 Microfiber Vacuum Mop Device-   11 Carry Handle-   20 Floor-   21 Valve-   22 Valve Handle-   23 Water Spray Inlet-   24 Water Spray Inlet Tubing-   25 Water Spray Nozzle-   26 Valve Bracket-   27 Upper Swivel Joint Bracket-   28 Mop Head Arm Member-   31 Primary Vacuum-   32 Primary Vacuum Tube-   33 Primary Vacuum Exit Port-   34 Primary Vacuum Suction Opening-   41 Upper Swivel Joint-   42 Swivel Handle-   43 Pull Rod-   44 Lower Swivel Joint-   45 Upper Pull Rod Joint-   46 Lower Pull Rod Joint-   47 Mop Suction Tube Connector Pair-   48 Left Branch-   49 Right Branch-   50 Micro Fiber Mop-   51 Follower Brush-   52 Mop Suction Tube-   53 Mop Suction Tube Outlet-   54 Microfiber Fabric Sheet-   55 Suction Pad-   56 Vacuum Opening Array-   57 Vacuum Array Border-   58 Solid Portion-   59 Brush Frame-   60 Plurality Of Vacuum Openings-   61 T-Connector-   62 First Suction Tube Connector-   63 Second Suction Tube Connector-   64 Suction Pad Underside-   65 Mop Suction Tube Vacuum Suction-   66 Primary Vacuum Suction

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As seen in FIG. 1, the microfiber vacuum mop device 10 has a carryhandle 11 and has a water spray feature for spraying a floor 20.Pressurized water is controlled at a valve 21 configured for controllingthe flow of water through water spray inlet tubing 24. The water sprayinlet tubing 24 could also provide a steam spray or be selectablebetween water and steam or a combination of both water and steam. Thevalve 21 has a valve handle 22 that is pivotally mounted to the valve 21for manually actuating the water supply for the mop. The valve 21 has avalve bracket 26 connecting the valve 21 to the primary vacuum tube 32.The primary vacuum tube 32 acts as a frame to support the valve 21 andcan be made as an elongated aluminum tube. The valve handle 22 is formedas a lever that allows inlet water into the water spray inlet 23. Theinlet water exits at a water spray nozzle 25. The water spray nozzle 25can have a fan shape for spray in a linear shape on a floor surface. Thewater spray nozzle 25 sprays the water directly ahead of the primaryvacuum 31. The primary vacuum 31 suctions the used water from the floorsurface upward through the primary vacuum tube 32. The used water thenexits through the primary vacuum exit port 33.

The primary vacuum tube 32 also supports an upper swivel joint bracket27. The upper swivel joint bracket 27 is connected to the primary vacuumtube 32 and supports the upper swivel joint 41 which is mounted abovethe upper swivel joint bracket 27. The swivel handle 42 is swivelmounted to the upper swivel joint 41. A pull rod 43 functions also as apush rod and pulls upwardly as well as pushes downwardly. The pull rod43 has a connection to the lower pull rod joint 46. The lower pull rodjoint 46 is pivotally mounted to the pull rod 43. The upper pull rodjoint 45 is also pivotally mounted to the pull rod 43. The swivel handle42 is manually actuated and thus raises and lowers the pull rod 43 whichin turn raises and lowers the mop head arm member 48. The mop head armmember 48 swivels upwardly and downwardly on a lower swivel joint 44.The mop head arm member 48 also has a lower pull rod joint 46 forreceiving the pull rod. The mop head arm member 48 swivels from anupward disengaged position to a lower engaged position.

The microfiber mop 50 is mounted to the mop head arm member 48. Afollower brush 51 is mounted between the microfiber mop 50 and theprimary vacuum suction opening 34 of the primary vacuum 31. The followerbrush extends downwardly and brushes the floor to direct water anddebris into the primary vacuum 31. The follower brush 51 can swivelupward with the mop head arm member 48 allowing use of only the primaryvacuum 31. If the follower brush 51 and the microfiber mop 50 aremounted lower than the primary vacuum 31, then different implements canbe selectively used according to the selection of the swivel handle 42.For example, the follower brush 51 can be at a lower level and can thenraise the primary vacuum 31 above the floor. When the follower brush 51is removed, then the primary vacuum suction opening 34 has heightadjustment and selective use capability. The primary vacuum suction 66is greater than the mop suction tube vacuum suction 65.

As seen in FIG. 2, the key feature of the present invention is theconfiguration of the microfiber mop 50. The microfiber mop 50 provides afaster drying of surfaces and includes a mop suction tube 52 that exitsat a mop suction tube outlet 53. The lower swivel joint 44 and lowerpull rod joint 46 control the position of the suction pad 55. A fabricsheet such as microfiber fabric sheet 54 can be mounted to the suctionpad 55 on a the suction pad underside 64. The suction pad 55 receives avacuum from the mop suction tube 52 which is then applied to the fabricsheet to continuously dewater it while the vacuum is active. The lowvacuum pressure is applied through the apertures of the microfiberfabric sheet 54 such that the vacuum draws water from the microfiberfabric sheet 54 upwardly through the mop suction tube 52. Microfibersheets 54 can have small openings in the fabric through which water isdrawn through. The follower brush 51 mounted on the brush frame 59assists the microfiber sheet 54 by segregating water sprayed from thewater spray nozzle 25 from the microfiber sheet 54. The brush frame 59can be made of an extruded hollow aluminum channel. The microfiber sheet54 provides a final water pick up after the primary vacuum 31 provides apreliminary water pick up. The residual water that passes underneath thefollower brush 51 is picked up by the microfiber sheet 54. In this way,a single pass of the apparatus provides a preliminary and finishingsweep which provides a two in one capability.

The mop suction tube connection pair 47 can be formed as a connectionnipple or press fit tube socket and includes first suction tubeconnector 62 and a second suction tube connector 63. As seen in FIG. 3,the mop suction tube connection pair includes a left branch 48 and aright branch 49. The left branch 48 and a right branch 49 are connectedat a T connector 61. The follower brush 51 is preferably approximatelythe same length as the suction pad 55. The mop suction tube 52 drawswater from the T connector 61 which distributes the suction equally tothe left branch 48 and the right branch 49. The left branch 48 isconnected to the first suction tube connector 62 and the right branch 49is connected to the second suction tube connector 63. The suction pad 55is formed as a manifold where the mop suction tube connector pair 47open to a vacuum opening array 56.

As seen in FIG. 4, the vacuum opening array 56 has a large number ofsmall round openings that all have suction force from the mop suctiontube connection pair 47, which in turn receives a suction force from themop suction tube 52. The vacuum opening array 56 provides a hollow areathat is formed on the suction pad 55 and the vacuum opening array hassix rows of seventy two openings for a total of four hundred thirty twoopenings for example. The vacuum opening array 56 can be formed as aregular array of openings. The vacuum opening array 56 has a vacuumarray border 57 which can be slightly protruded downwardly from thesolid array portion 58. The solid array portion 58 is preferably a flatsurface formed between the openings of the vacuum opening array. Thevacuum opening array 56 is a regular arrangement of the plurality ofvacuum openings 60 formed on an underside of the suction pad 55. Each ofthe plurality of vacuum openings 60 is in fluid communication with themop suction tube 52 via intermediate conduits. As seen in FIGS. 5-8, thefollower brush and microfiber mop can swivel from an engaged downwardposition to a disengaged upward position. The microfiber fabric sheet 54can be changed in between usages, but can now last an entire cleaningdue to its continued drying by the plurality of vacuum openings 60 thatare sucking on the water picked up by the microfiber fabric sheet 54.

Alternatively, the microfiber vacuum mop device 10 can be formed in alight version as seen in FIG. 2 separable from the water spray andprimary vacuum apparatus. The light version can be releasably attachableto the primary vacuum tube 32 for selecting between 2 modes, namely afirst mode having a combined water spray and primary vacuum capability,and a second mode having just the microfiber vacuum mop capability. Themicrofiber vacuum picks up a fluid flow which includes both water andair.

1. A fabric vacuum mop comprising: a. a mop suction tube configured toreceive a mop suction tube vacuum suction; b. a suction pad having aplurality of vacuum openings formed on an underside of the suction pad,wherein the plurality of vacuum openings are in fluid communication withthe mop suction tube; and c. a fabric mounted on the underside of thesuction pad, wherein the plurality of vacuum openings suck on the fabricwhen the vacuum suction is engaged, whereby the fabric can be dewateredduring use.
 2. The fabric vacuum mop of claim 1, wherein the pluralityof vacuum openings are arranged in a vacuum opening array.
 3. The fabricvacuum mop of claim 1, wherein the plurality of vacuum openings numberover three hundred openings.
 4. The fabric vacuum mop of claim 1,wherein the plurality of vacuum openings have a round shape.
 5. Thefabric vacuum mop of claim 1, wherein the plurality of vacuum openingsare arranged in at least six rows.
 6. The fabric vacuum mop of claim 1,further comprising: a follower brush mounted adjacent to the suctionpad.
 7. The fabric vacuum mop of claim 1, further comprising: a mopsuction tube connection pair including a first suction tube connectorand a second suction tube connector, wherein the mop suction tubeconnection pair is connected to the suction pad and in fluidcommunication with the plurality of vacuum openings, wherein the mopsuction tube connection pair is connected to a pair of tubes, namely aleft branch and a right branch, wherein the left branch is connected toa T connector, and wherein the right branch is connected to a Tconnector, wherein the T connector is connected to the mop suction tube.8. The fabric vacuum mop of claim 1, further comprising: a mop head armmember, wherein the suction pad is mounted to the mop head arm member,wherein the mop head arm member is swivel mounted to rotate between araised disengaged position and a lowered engaged position.
 9. The fabricvacuum mop of claim 1, further comprising: a primary vacuum having aprimary vacuum tube and a primary vacuum opening, wherein the primaryvacuum tube has a primary vacuum suction of greater force than a mopsuction tube vacuum suction.
 10. The fabric vacuum mop of claim 1,further comprising: a water spray nozzle configured to spray water whena valve handle is actuated.
 11. A microfiber vacuum mop comprising: a. amop suction tube configured to receive a mop suction tube vacuumsuction; b. a suction pad having a plurality of vacuum openings formedon an underside of the suction pad, wherein the plurality of vacuumopenings are in fluid communication with the mop suction tube; and c. amicrofiber fabric sheet mounted on the underside of the suction pad,wherein the plurality of vacuum openings suck on the microfiber fabricsheet when the vacuum suction is engaged, whereby the fabric can bedewatered during use.
 12. The microfiber vacuum mop of claim 11, whereinthe plurality of vacuum openings are arranged in a vacuum opening array,wherein the plurality of vacuum openings number over three hundredopenings.
 13. The microfiber vacuum mop of claim 11, wherein theplurality of vacuum openings have a round shape, wherein the pluralityof vacuum openings are arranged in at least six rows.
 14. The microfibervacuum mop of claim 11, further comprising: a follower brush mountedadjacent to the suction pad.
 15. The microfiber vacuum mop of claim 11,further comprising: a mop suction tube connection pair including a firstsuction tube connector and a second suction tube connector, wherein themop suction tube connection pair is connected to the suction pad and influid communication with the plurality of vacuum openings, wherein themop suction tube connection pair is connected to a pair of tubes, namelya left branch and a right branch, wherein the left branch is connectedto a T connector, and wherein the right branch is connected to a Tconnector, wherein the T connector is connected to the mop suction tube.16. The microfiber vacuum mop of claim 11, further comprising: a mophead arm member, wherein the suction pad is mounted to the mop head armmember, wherein the mop head arm member is swivel mounted to rotatebetween a raised disengaged position and a lowered engaged position. 17.The microfiber vacuum mop of claim 11, further comprising: a primaryvacuum having a primary vacuum tube and a primary vacuum opening,wherein the primary vacuum tube has a primary vacuum suction of greaterforce than a mop suction tube vacuum suction.